Device and method of classifying patrons



y 9, 1931. 1.. o. BECK 1,806,142

DEVICE AND METHOD OF CLASSIFYING PATRONS Filed March 30. 1929 W J gaze 060621129011" r AHQIW Patented May 19, 1931 PATENT since LUE OSCAR BECK, or BUFFALO, New YORK DEVICE AND METHOD OF CLASSIFYING PATRONS Application filed March 30, 1929. Serial No. 351,290.

This invention relates to a new device and method for classifying patrons of amusement houses, parks and resorts in which admission is charged to enter the GIlClOSllIQ fOIlll- 5 ing the house or resort, and in which there may be additional subdivisions of amusements or other devices for the use of the patrons of the resort to which additional admissions are charged. As patrons entering the various types of amusement resorts have different objects of entertainment in view or enter for some particular specific purpose, it is the object of this invention to segregate these patrons 7 into different classes and to charge an admission uponientrance governed according to the amount of amusement or the special activity which each particular patron de- 7 sires to follow, so that some patrons maybe entered for admission fees more reasonable than others, thereby producing an inducement to all types and classes of people to utilizethe facilities of the resort to the de sired extent and whereby they will pay for only the amount of amusement or service received. V

In carrying out this segregation and class ifying of patronsin a resort, it is the ob- I j'ect of this-invention to distinguish these groups of patrons by issuing receipts for the admission price'paid at the entrance to the resort or building, or other enclosure, and to permanently attach these receipts which. are frangible, and may be mutilated, to the 55 person of the patron in any suitable and desired manner, preferably by having the receipt in the form of an elongated narrow strip of sheet material and applying this 7 strip to the wrist of the patron so that it will encircle the wrist, and a suitable securing element which will permanently fasten the overlapping ends of the strip together to prevent removal of the strip from the wrist except by mutilation which will destroy the value of the receipt.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a frangible receipt strip for attachment to the human wrist so that it will encircle the Wrist and have the ends extend- 59' ing laterally therefrom in overlapping rela moval.

tion, together with a permanent fastener for permanently attaching the ends of the strip in such a manner that it will be necessary to mutilate the strip and receipt when removing it from the wrist.

'In the drawings forming part of this application;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan of an amusement hall, park, or other enclosure, illustrating the entrance and exit to the enclosure, together with additional entrances to segre'- gated amusements within the enclosure to facilitate the explanation of the invention.

Fig. 2' is a perspective view illustrating the receipt strip applied to the wrist ofa patron with a permanent fastener in such a mannerthat it must be mutilated in re- Fig3 is a plan View of the strip before it is applied to a patron.

Fig. '4: is a sectionalview through the receipt strip showing how the permanent fastener attaches the overlapping ends of .the

strip together.

' In Fig. 1, the numeral 1 indicates the outer walls of a building which may forexample be a dance hall, although any type of amusement building, park or enclosure may be used in carrying out the invention. The entrance to the dance hall is indicated at 2 which has the usual ticket booth 3 adjacent thereto. Patrons enteringthe dance hall may selectively purchase and obtain several types of tickets including a special, admittance receipt hereinafter more fullyldiscussed. An important feature of the invention is the form of the admittance receipt which consists of a strip of paper, celluloid, orother frangible material indicated at 4 which is applied so asto encircle the Wrist of the patron as illustrated' in Fig. 2. 7

After this strip is placed about the Wrist in a manner illustrated in Fig. 2, a suitable wire stapling machine or other typeof permanent fastening device will be applied to the overlapping ends 5 of this strip and operated to apply the Wire fastener 6 to these overlapping ends in order .to permanently connect them together. This connection will be made in such a manner that the strip 4 forming the receipt for the admission price paid in the booth 3 will be permanently attached to the Wrist and can not be removed over the hand without tearing, breaking or otherwise niutilating the material of the strip. Then the patron is free to enter and use the facilities of the dance hall according to the particular plan observed. These strips 4 will be made in different colors for different groups of patronsfpaying different admission fess and different colors will also be used on successive days in order that the patrons on one day will be unable to use the receipts on succeeding days. Any other suit able method of se regating the strips into groups by suitable indicia'or other designating characters may be used in place of colors and all of these methods of identification of the receipts are comprehended bythe invention. I v V- In the operation of a dance hall, for ex ample, a certain group of patrons do not desire to dance butprefer to enjoy the music and watch others dance, in which case they frequently ob ect to paymg the adm ssion fee which isrequlred of those who desire to dance-and use the full facilities of-the 'hall.

As a result, this invention provides a means whereby visitors and otherswho do not-dance may enJoy the entertainment by purchasing an admissionat a special price considerably less than those who dance will be required to pay. Should these patrons after entering desire to dance, then they may procure tickets for any particular dance hall atthe booth 7 within the dance hall 1 which will admit them to the dance floor 8 withinthe railing or other type of partition 9 used to divide the dance floor from other portions of the hall indicated at 10to' which the patrons are admitted. V -Then, those patrons who have'secured admission at the reduced price will pay for each dance through the purchase of tickets orother suitable arrangement and as they enter onto the d'an'cefioor through the gate 11 will hand their tickets to the attendant stationed at 12. J With the class of patrons who desire to dance frequently, it is necessary to :secure a much greater admission fee and is therefore expedient to fully encourage and convenience such patronage. To properly satisfy this class of patrons, they will upon payment of a special admission fee at the booth 3 be supplied with identifying receipts of a special color which are attached to the Wrist in the manner disclosed in Fig. 2. :VVhen these patrons desire to dance, they may obtain en'- trance through the gate ll merely by exhibiting their receipts to the attendant of the dance hall stationed at 12. Thusthese patrons upon exhibiting their bands will not be required to go to the difficulty and inconvenience of paying a special fee for enjoying each'successive dance.

When the patron leaves the dance hall, he will obviously desire to, remove his receipt and in order to do so, it will be necessary to tear or otherwise mutilate the receipt in order to sever the connection, and as a result, it will not be useful on another occasion.

This receipt issued to the patron upon admissionmay be obviously applied to the clothing of the patron or in any other manner so long as it is required to be mutilated when removed. I i

It is to be understood that this method of operating an amusement hall may be applied closed clearly coinpreheiids the classifying of patrons into groups regardless of the natureof the entertainment or amusement or other business to which the inventionmay be applied.v v Y What is claimed'is; V I V r 1. As an article ofmanufactiire, a strip". of light frangible sheet material forming an admission receipt, said strip having a length suflicient to encircle the human wrist and provide overlapping end portions, and a permanent metallic fastener having portions extending through and joining said overlapping ends to prevent removal of said strip from the wrist exceptby mutilation thereby destroying the receipt. 1 I v 2. A method of attaching a visible re.- ceipt strip to the wrist for the purpose described, consisting of wrapping a frangible strip of material aboutthe wrist with' the ends thereof in abutting relation, then iiisei ting said ends in a stapling device, and finally stapling the ends together therein.

LUE'oscj BECK. 

